Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-06-10
Lh,GGETls LIFE.
The Wild Ride Of a Lawyer to
Save the Mex of His
Client.
De Reaches the Gallows Just as the
Sheriff Is About to Gut the
- Rope.
[Snvannah (Ga.) specia1 J

received re, on Wednesday night-or rather
thursday ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS from Gov
ernor Gordon informing him of Leggett's
respite for thirty days. These he started
with for Tatnall County on Thursday
aa1Iternoon. 1t was generally understood
throughout the county that the execution
would take place in the forenoon of the
next day. The sun was not two hours hieh
~hen people began arriving in the town.
some on foot, others Oh horseback, and
many in the cracker carts. The scatfold
had been erected in field quarter of q
mile from the village. Thither the crowd
moved, and steadily grew in numbers.
Leggett was given breakfast at o'clock,
and shortly afterward minister of the
gospel was admitted to his cell. The con-
demned man talked of the murder of his
vile, said that he was sorry for it, and ex-
pressed hope for forgiveness. He had
not received any intimation that a reprieve
would he granted in his case, and he went
ABOUT preparing to pay the penalty of his
crime. At 1890 he was handcutfed. and.
surrounded by Deputy Sherit,s. was driven
to the scatfold. Fully 1,5oO people had
collected there, and an immense crowd fol-
lowed Leggett and his guards from the
town. Dozens of men and boys had climbed
up INTO the trees to get q better view.
hundreds more swarmed over the carts,
standing up on the wheels. seats, anywhere
and everywhere that a foothold offered.
THE BLACK CAP.
The testing lulled as the prisoner as
cended the scatfold, but still a low buzz of
excited comment arose from the throng
After few minutes of prayer and IL short
confession from the murderer the sheriff
sllpIed the moose over Leggett's head,
carefully tghtened the rope around his
neck. and faI no IL
black cap was put on and pulled down over
the prisoners face. He had walked up on
the gailows with firm step, and showed
little sign OF nervousness in his voice as he
sang and prayed. He did not falter when
placed on the fatal trap, and held his hands
quietly behind lis back to have them tied
together. His ankles were next bound
tightly with stout rope.
MIR. Clifton Was in his bed in Savannah
when he received telegram from Governor
Gordon erantins respite. When the at
torney left the train at Johnstons station,
on the Savannah, Florida and Western
Railway, he had forty-fve miles to drive
through country not noted for its good
roads. The breaking of trace or an axle
or anything happening to either of the
horses, or any one of a hundred accidents,
was liable to delay him and prevent his
reaching Riedsville before the trap was
sprung. While Leggett was Watching
through his cell window the first CLEANS Of
dawn his faithful lawyer was urging IL swift
pair of horses across the country at gait
that covered them with foam. The hours
sped by with equal rapidly to the prison
er and to the man who was Fastening to
save his life.
IN TINE.
The Sheriff had Just turned to step down
Oil the scatfold. preparatory to cutting the
rope which held the trap in tho floor, when
Mr.. Clifton pushed his way into the crowd
and shouted:
Mr.. Sheriff, I have here message
from Gov. Gordon, directed to you.
Come this way and let me see it imme-
diately," answered back the sheriff.
For moment not a whisper was uttered.
Every one held hi, breath. The crowd
divided and made way for the lawyer to
pass to the foot of the gallows. The sheriff
glanced hastily at the tele ,ram. and drop
ped the Ratchet which he held i'll his hand.
$50 up on the scatfold, Clifton, and
read to u.s." cried thousand voices.
Iatnall is the attorneys native county.
Everybody down there knows him, and
there was not man in the crowd who did
not recognize his tall, broad form az he
elbowed his way TO the Sheriff. Many a
time in his life had the lawyer heard the
Cry, "Take the STAGE" but never before
under such circumstances.
MIR. CLIFTON EXPLAINS.
Taking ex-senator Mattox by the arm,
Mr.. Clifton stepped briskly upon the plat
form, and without waiting for Leggett to
be unbound read the dispatch from Gov
ernor Gordon granting respite for thirty
days. "Tnis is authentic" the speaker
added, and he read another telegram ad-
dressed to himself, to the effect that re-
prieve had been granted. He then read q
third dispatch, inquiring if the first and
second had been received. The kilograms
had magical effect upon the crowd. They
yelled and shouted for Gordon and Clifton
and pressed up close to the scaifold to con-
graduate him.
ed, being unable to believe what his ears
heard. Then when it dawned upon him
that he was not to die. he made frantic
efforts to be released. The cap and moose
were quickly removed, and he fell down
on his knees and poured out thanks 10 God
and his attorney. His bonds were cut and
he was led away, declaring that he loved
his lawyer more than any one in the world.
The scene was one not witnessed twice in a
lifetime, except in the last act of some
dramas on the mimic strage where q
courier rushes on GREATNESS from the
wings and hands the heavy man in the
play a pardon for the hero. The crowd
was disappointed, but it seemed perfectly
we'll satisfied that the affair had taken the
turn it did. Mr.. Clifton was sort of hero,
and in less than an hour petitions were be-
ing signed asking the Governor to com,
mute Leggetts sentence to Imprisonment
for life.